Chawla appointed Punjabi university’s new dean research

In a major reshuffle, Punjabi University, Patiala has appointed new dean academic affairs and dean research.

In a major reshuffle, Punjabi University, Patiala has appointed new dean academic affairs and dean research.

Dr AS Chawla has been appointed as new dean (research), while renowned scholar and musician Dr Gurnam Singh has been appointed as dean (academic affairs). The posts of Chawla and Gurnam have been swapped.

Apart from these appointments, vice-chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh has also given one year extension to Dr Devinder Singh as registrar of the university. All these professors were assigned duties for the next one year.

The reshuffle was due as the two-year tenure of Dr Chawla, a trusted man of vice-chancellor, was ending as dean academic affairs on June 30. Similarly, the tenure of Dr Gurnam Singh as dean research was also ending on June 30.

Keeping in view the experience of Dr Chawla, who had worked as registrar and dean academics, the vice chancellor asked him to join him as dean (research).

“Dr Chalwa has vast experience in university administration and in the field of research. The university wants to give more impetus to research and foreign tie-ups. Therefore, he has been assigned this important duty,” said vice-chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh.

Chawla is currently teaching in the School of Management Studies and has been in teaching profession for over 35 years. He has been trained at Harvard Business School, USA and has also been associated with Harvard Business School for coordinating their executive education initiative in East and South African Region. During his professional career, Dr Chawla also worked as financial advisor in a Kenyan Business Conglomerate for one¬-and-halfyears and also as professor and dean of management faculty at KIST Kigali for three years. He is also an adjunct professor at Wilkes University, USA and University of South Pacific, Fiji. Dr Chawla has got to his credit over 50 research paper and articles in reputed journals and 11 authored and edited books. He has also handled research and consulting project for USAID, World Bank and World Vision.

Similarly, Dr Gurnam is also a noted name in Gurmat Sangeet (religious music). He was instrumental for opening the Gurmat Sangeet department. He is one of senior most faculty members of the university.